Lara, Pearce debate issues in forum to be televised on KRWG-TV

Several times during the debate, Lara emphasized that she is running because of widespread public criticism of Congress' inability to work together to resolve issues affecting Americans.

"I see and hear the same thing everywhere I go," Lara said. "People are fed up with Congress, its divisiveness, its partisanship and its dysfunction. Together, we can work together to fix Congress.

"...The divisiveness (in Congress) is what's hurting New Mexico."

Pearce's vote for a Republican House budget that would have eventually replaced Medicare with premium supports to buy private insurance was contested by Lara and defended by Pearce during the debate. Pearce said the cuts to Medicare benefits have come from Democrats in Congress.

Pearce also blasted the Affordable Care Act.

"It is costing us jobs," Pearce said. "We should replace it because it is draining the American economy. ... Turning it over to the federal government has been a mistake."

However, Lara said she supports the Medicare savings that have been included in Obamacare. She added there are portions of the Affordable Care Act that could be improved, but that can happen only through bipartisan leadership, which Congress has failed to achieve, at least so far.

"There are pieces to fix," Lara said. "It's just a matter of rolling up our sleeves and doing it."

The candidates also had contrasting perspectives on the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Pearce said a unilateral decision was made by President Obama in designating the new national monument.

"What the president did was vastly over reach," Pearce said. "... The president went too far in making this monument."

But Lara countered that there was ample public input that more than reinforced Obama's designation earlier this year for the monument. Lara added she would support federal funding for it.

"The president's action was because of the public's voice," Lara said. "People have been working together for this monument for over a decade."

Also during the debate, Lara said she supports same-sex marriage, but Pearce said the issue should not redefine marriage. Pearce also said there was no need to address global warming, but Lara said southern New Mexico has the potential to benefit through its abundance of solar and wind power.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at 575-541-5452

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